University of California – Irvine

As a proud first-generation college graduate from UCLA with a B.A. in Sociology and a background in psychology and anthropology, I know firsthand how daunting the college application process can be. Now pursuing my Master’s in Counseling, I’m here to help ease the anxieties that come with this pivotal moment, guiding students every step of the way and ensuring both they and their families feel supported. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of seniors and their families throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. My students have been accepted into top universities across California and the U.S., many earning prestigious scholarships like QuestBridge and Posse. I also have extensive knowledge of financial aid, scholarships, and the overall senior year timeline, helping students and parents navigate the process with confidence. I specialize in college platforms like the UC App, CSU App, Common App, and the Common Black App, and I love helping students explore majors and careers, research and create college wishlists, and craft standout resumes and brag sheets. Whether it’s brainstorming essay ideas or polishing a personal statement, I’m excited to help students discover their strengths and present their best selves. Outside of work, I’m a huge animal lover with three dogs. I also love to travel, catch up on my favorite TV series, exercise, read, and hang out with friends. My goal is to make this process as smooth and enjoyable as possible, helping you transition into this next chapter with ease.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University with a B.A. in Environmental Sciences & Policy and Sociology, the latter with distinction for researching and defending my undergraduate thesis and with a concentration in the Sociology of Work and Organizations. I was part of a plethora of organizations while in college, such as being a member of Business Oriented Women, a teaching assistant for Duke's Social Marketing class, and a marketing coordinator for a civic engagement program for Duke and Stanford student-athletes. Outside of Duke, I also took accounting classes at Foothill College and plan to sit for the CPA exam next year. During my time at Duke, I advised college-aged peers and students as an alum of my high school's Women in Leadership class on landing finance internships, resume building, interview prep, and more. In high school, I was a writing tutor and helped seniors and juniors sharpen their personal statements and supplement essays. I have a lot of experience as a peer editor and reader, and also assisted my younger sibling and cousins on their college applications. I have a widely adaptable approach to advising and am quick to pivot to ensure that any student's needs are met and exceeded. I take pride in my research skills as well as my writing/reviewing abilities. I had a whirlwind of an experience while applying to college, having applied to over 20 schools and being accepted to all but 2. Yet, the most memorable part of the process for me was being able to give back and help my peers achieve success. My goal is to ensure that a holistic, impactful picture of any student is aptly conveyed through writing and, more importantly, to make the college application and advising process as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Currently, I am a Global Banking & Markets Analyst at a financial firm in New York City. I also plan to apply to JD/MBA programs in the coming years to further my passion for law and business. My passion for advising and education stems back to my childhood, not only from being inspired by my mother's experience as an FGLI student who pushed herself to earn her Bachelor's degree and MBA on her own, but also by being able to tutor and help my younger brother on his journey to college. Outside of my career, I love photography, hiking, and running my music blog.

From the rural city of Taishan, China, to a low-income suburban town in Idaho, and finally to the metropolis of Los Angeles, I recently graduated from the Honors College at UCLA with a B.S. in Cognitive Science and a Specialization in Computing. During my time at UCLA, I served as an advisor, head advisor, and national advisor for Matriculate, where I guided low-income, high-achieving high school students into their top-choice universities. I was also actively involved on campus as the assistant managing editor of UCLA's Undergraduate Science Journal, where I edited undergraduate research papers for publication. My academic journey included conducting research in a comparative cognition lab and an organic chemistry lab, working as an ophthalmic technician and caretaker, and student supervising a campus library. Beyond academics, I embrace life by engaging in outdoor activities like hiking and skiing, and exploring diverse cultures in Canada, the Dominican Republic, Spain, and China. I'm an avid binge-watcher, and you'll often find me rewatching Stranger Things or Harry Potter, or in the movie theater critiquing the latest movie. I'm currently in my concert era, having recently attended the Jingle Ball, Hozier, TwoSet Violin, Stephen Sanchez, TWICE, and Meghan Trainor concerts. My most favorite activity of all is creating unforgettable memories with my friends (and loving my cat). I have experience working with students interested in dentistry, law, public affairs, engineering, and have a strong understanding of the pre-medical track. My mission as an advisor is to help students authentically present themselves to admissions officers, ensuring their true selves shine through in their applications. I understand that the college application process can be overwhelming, but with a confident mindset and a personalized approach, it can become an exciting new chapter in life. Currently, I am preparing for the MCAT with the goal of applying to medical school in the next application cycle. My passion for education stems from my experience growing up as a low-income student in a public school system where higher education was not emphasized. I aim to show my community and others that the pursuit of higher education is within everyone's reach, and that anyone can chart their own path to success.

In terms of my educational background, I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Later, I became a double Bruin, and received a Master of Arts degree in Asian American Studies. Recently, I completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at New York University (NYU) in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Fiction. Between my undergraduate career and graduate career, I gained nine years of professional experience in Student Affairs at UCLA – serving in different capacities at the Student Retention Center. During my first three years, I was the Project Coordinator of the Southeast Asian retention project (SEA CLEAR), a program that provides peer counseling, skill-building workshops, and mentorship opportunities to support underserved students. In this role, I helped students with strategic course planning, goal setting, and campus resource referrals. In the following three years, I served as the Program Manager of the UCLA Writing Success Program (WSP). WSP provides 1-on-1 counseling to help undergraduates brainstorm and revise academic essays, graduate admissions materials, scholarship materials, and job applications. My experience in both roles led to my promotion to the Retention Advisor position from 2017-2020. As Retention Advisor, I supervised the overall operations of the UCLA Student Retention Center, including its seven retention programs, study hall services, and campus wide events. Over the years, I have interacted with hundreds of students, administrators, faculty, and community members, which allows me to work with people of diverse ages and backgrounds. Following my nine years in Student Affairs, I continued to gain experience in writing instruction during my time as a graduate student in UCLA’s Asian American Studies Master’s program, where I worked as a Teaching Assistant (T.A.) during the 2021-2022 academic year. I was assigned to the Asian American Studies writing courses and taught a weekly discussion section focused on developing writing skills and helping students critically discuss classroom material. During my time in the MFA program at NYU from 2022-2024, I worked as a Graduate Assistant at NYU’s Preprofessional Advising Center, which helped me gain familiarity with the academic support structure at NYU. In this capacity, I gained experience working with pre-med and Post-baccalaureate students. In addition, I taught an undergraduate introductory course to poetry and prose, which has given me exposure to syllabus planning, undergraduate instruction, and administrative tasks as it pertains to classroom upkeep.

Throughout my education, I have worked as a freelance tutor, guiding students in reading, writing, SAT Verbal preparation, and college admissions essays.

Hello, my name is Sidra! I am a Second Year OB/GYN Resident. In high school, I decided I wanted to pursue medicine. I went to University of California: Davis, to embark on my Pre-Med Journey and graduated in 2017. I am excited to share my passion for medicine with you but also show you other ways you can help people outside of medicine.
Expertise: Pre Med Advising, Pre Health Advising, Interview Preparation, Resume Review, and Academic and Career Counseling.
Looking forward to supporting your journey!

Hello, my name is Yesenia. I was the first in my family to attend college. I went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with a degree in Psychology with a minor in Labor and Workplace Studies. I then earned a Master's Degree from California State University, Long Beach in Counseling - Option in Student Development in Higher Education. I am passionate about helping students with their higher educational goals to ensure they are able to get accepted, attend, and ultimately graduate from college to obtain a fulfilling career. For the past 10 years, I have been working in college access and success programs and have served hundreds of students with their college-going journey! It would be a pleasure and a privilege to support you in your goals. Let's work together to make that goal a reality!

I am a first-generation Latina college graduate and I hold my B.A. in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). I have held positions as a College Advisor, Student Services Advisor and Academic Mentor where I have advised students with the college application process in both 1-1 and group settings (virtual and in-person), organized and coordinated college access and leadership workshops to support students and families from diverse backgrounds, and supported with post-secondary education and career planning. As a first-generation student, I was never exposed to resources to support me with the college access process. This taught me how to seek out resources on my own, which supported me throughout my time at university. After graduating from UC Berkeley, I further developed my passion of helping others because I believe everyone should have equitable access to attain higher education. I believe everyone has a unique story to share and with my passion to support and experience in advising students, I am excited to get to hear our students' stories and continue advocating and ensuring students receive the support needed to attain higher education.

Hi! My name is Tatiana Diaz. I am a first-generation college student and the first in my extended family to graduate college. Navigating the college application process was a bit daunting when I was in high school, but I was able to use the resources around me, including Upward Bound and GEAR Up to successfully achieve the goals I had set for myself. I am looking forward to working with students and their families as they navigate this process and am very hopeful that I will be able to provide assistance through some of the bumps that might come up along the road. I graduated from UC Irvine where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior and Chicano/Latino Studies with a minor in Education in 2010. In 2014 I graduated from Loyola Marymount University and received my Master’s in Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential. I am now in my tenth year as a high school counselor. I have had the pleasure of guiding and educating many students about their college, career, and financial aid options during their high school years. I very much look forward to working with you and continuing to learn with you!

Languages spoken: English and Spanish

Hi! My name is Megan, and I was born and raised in Orange County, California, and currently live there as well! I received my Bachelor of Arts in European Studies from UC Irvine (Go Anteaters!) and my Master of Science in School Counseling from the University of La Verne. During my undergrad experience, I spent a semester living and studying abroad in London, England. I have worked as a high school counselor for the past 5 years, and prior to that worked in higher education for 8 years in both advising and in study abroad roles. I have also been an admissions reader for a UC school in the past. I am extremely passionate about helping students achieve their goal of attending college. As a high school counselor, I am confident in working with any student, no matter your major/interest. In my free time, I like to read, go for walks with friends, play board games and cook. I can't wait to work with you!